Liverpool hosts PSV Eindhoven in a Group D Champions League encounter on Wednesday (1 October 2008) . The match will take place at Anfield with high flying Liverpool taking on Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Liverpool got off to a good start in their Champions League 2008-2009 campaign as the reds defeated Olympique Marseille 2-1 away from home. PSV Eindhoven, on the other hand, lost to Atletico Madrid 3-0 in their Champions league opener. On the back of recent derby triumph over Everton, Liverpool will look to continue their winning run in Europe too. PSV Eindhoven might come out full of confident, knowing that another defeat would bring an end to their hopes of progressing to the round of 16 in the tournament.

Liverpool did not have very good domestic record for a number of seasons now. However, the club has seen a steady progress so far this season. With 14 points from 6 matches, Liverpool has ensured their best start to premier league in the recent past. Recently, Liverpool posted a morale-booster victory over city rivals Everton thanks to double strike from Spanish striker Fernando Torres. With this victory, Liverpool moved up to the second spot, just behind the leader Chelsea on goal difference. So, it is well-predicted that Rafael Benitez boys are now full of confident ahead of the Champions League showdown with PSV Eindhoven.

Unlike premier league, Liverpool remained as one of the strongest clubs in the Europe. In fact, Liverpool is most successful English clubs in UEFA Champions League with five titles so far. Even if you consider their recent performance in Europe, you would see them in the semi final for three times in the last four seasons; two times they made it to the final and won the title in 2004-2005 season. So, in Europe, most of the clubs do not usually like to travel to Anfield. Even in this season, Liverpool got an emphatic start in Champions League, winning away at Olympique Marseille. So, Liverpool players now have a number of sources to take inspiration from ahead of PSV Eindhoven’s visit to Anfield.

PSV Eindhoven is the defending champion of Eredivisie (highest domestic football league in Netherlands). However, the Dutch champions got an ordinary start in the season, picking up 9 points from four games so far this season. PSV Eindhoven now occupies second place with a point behind the leader Groningen. Recently, PSV Eindhoven defeated FC Volendam 1-0 to hold onto second place in the league table. They are one of the most successful Dutch clubs in Champions League. The won the European title in 1987-88 season for the first time and since then they could not add another European feather to their cap.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will not get the service of defender Philipp Degen due to injury. The defender sustained two broken ribs in their 2-1 Carling Cup victory over Crowe. Javier Mascherano might feature against Eindhoven, though Rafael Benitez did not play him in their recent derby victory. Ryan Babel has already earned a tag of Liverpool’s substitute performer. The Dutch striker has proved his mettle as an effective players coming off the bench, but the forward is yet to impress Benitez for a regular place in the starting line up. With Captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres back in form, manager Rafael Benitez is supposed to have no worry on his shoulder ahead of the Champions league encounter against PSV Eindhoven.

For PSV Eindhoven, young midfielder Ibrahim Afellay might be vital at Anfield. The 22-year-old young prospect has already shown what he can do in his day. Liverpool has an eye on this talented midfielder who has the ability to turn the result of the match in PSV Eindhoven’s favor by his own. No doubt, Ibrahim Afellay is the main strength of their midfield.

Liverpool and in PSV Eindhoven faced against each other on four occasions in which Liverpool won thrice and the other match was drawn. So, Liverpool is ahead of in PSV Eindhoven in terms of head-to-head meeting as well.

Online Live Score and Updates

Here, I am giving some names of online live score websites from where you can get the online live score and updates of the match:

Live Score

Goalzz

Live Football Scores

Goal.com

Footie Scorez

Liverpool seems to be favorite against PSV Eindhoven. However, the visiting side knows it very well that they need three points from the match in order to reach the next round. So, even though Liverpool has better chance in the match, I can not write off PSV Eindhoven because the Dutch Champions will be desperate for points against Liverpool. I think, Liverpool will find it difficult to pull of home victory over PSV Eindhoven. I guess, it is going to be a hard-fought match at Anfield on Wednesday.